The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-03-04
Edna hasltated a mon,ant


Your looks would belle you, then. !"
she said, presently, and got in beside
him.
Dear Delight started Of at her own
iaunty trot and all went well while
they rolled along the picturesque coun-
try road.
Edna found her companion highly
cultivated man OF the world. who talked
exceedingly we'll She was much inter.
ested in his account of dive he had
once taken through Wales. and was
listening attentiVely, when be sound OF
bicycle bell startled her.
1t was not one bell, either, but several.
that announced the passageo Of a club Of
wheelmen--twelve in number--who
sped by, their nickel-plated machines
glittering in the sunlight
The pony had never mat 4 bicycle be-
fore. She stopped directly in the mid
die of the road. quiverils{ in, every
nerve. her ears thrown bach; and then,
rearing up. she plunged forward, and
away she went at dead run.
The incidents Of runaway are inn
material. 1t was not the poor pony's
fault that the light carriage upset over
the side of the road and sent its occu-
pants into ditch
Somebody caught Dear Delight half a
mile beyond; but Edna and Mr.. Oil
plant were left to get out as best they
could.
Edna, fortunately. was able to seram-
BILE to her feet at once, having sustained
no injury but some bruises and q good
shaking up; but Mr.. Oliphant lay there,
white and stunned. He was not, how
ever, seriously hurt, though he had to
be carried back on litter.
Edna nursed him. back to health, and
lost her heart in the task; and when he
was quite recovered, he insisted on
taking her out again in the trap, and
driving Dear Eight once more.
Thanks" she said, blushing. when
are you going to the mountains, Mr..
Oliphant?" g..
THAT depends"
Things usually depend on some
thing"
II want to find place for my sister
Nelly. She must go away to school.
But what puzzles me most is what to do
with myself"
Edna was silent In her own heart
she felt a pang which told her that part
ing with Dear Delight would be a slight
pain compared with separation from
Hugh Oliphant.
"a thought perhaps You could help
me out" he said, fiecking an imaginary
fly off the pony's sleek side.
| opp
you might marry me-" he said,
coolly.
''Ohr' she said. why should Ip''
Il don't know, if you DON'T" he said,
looking at her earnestly. Though
there is a good reason why l should
want you to. love you, Edna, and il
you think that You could ever care
enough for me to"
81 don't think anything about it"
she said, shyly.
Edna! DO you mean"
81 know" was her soft reply.
| And then Dear Delight had her OWL
sweet way for some time on. The reins
flung idly over the splash-board, and il
was good thing there were no bicycle
riders coming that way. :.
Edna" Hugh said, on the road
home. Il have mad up my mind moi
to give Dear Delight to Nelly. She
won't need horse when she goes away
to school, and can get another any
time. Besides" he concluded, 81 want
you to have Dear Delight. Will you
take her as my first giftP"
EdDa's eyes filled with joyful tears.
You are very goodr' she said, with
a smile such as only lover can provoke
"And to think what monster Thought
you when you first came 10 look at the
pony"
Il never thought anything like thai
about YOU" said Hugh. with playful re
lproach in his voice From the very
first wanted you far more than want
ed Delight"